sipped away

She'd needed some air and parked her car. Heading up towards the cabins. The ground felt dry, the air now getting cooler. He foot made a noise against a twig and before she could speak to Declan, he'd seen her. "You saw someone here? You mean me? I just got out of my car."

But as he started to move back towards Tammi, the rocking chair that sat on the porch slowly begin to move, sending a chill down Declan's spine. He swung round on his heel, holding his hand out for Tammi behind him. "Please tell me you see that now..."

The young werewolf went to call out to Declan but before she could she stepped on a small pile of dried-up leaves. “Well… I guess I gave myself away. Wait! You saw someone? Do you know who?” Unable to stop the curiosity within her from taking over, Tahlia made her way over to where Declan was. “I don’t see anyone, Dec.”

He swallowed, turning his back completely on the cabins to look back at Thalia. "No... I saw someone... something." He shook his head, now moving back towards his fellow werewolf. "I think i've finally lost my marbles." he laughed, giving a charming smile. "Don't uh... tell anyone about this." The last thing he needed was Douglas hearing about this.

To say Deirdre's night had been long would be the understatement of the year. It had been a full moon and Deidre had run wild, apart from the pack in a rare occurrence. She usually stuck close to the pack, wanting to keep a watch over the others, but last night she had yearned for solitude and the chance to stretch her legs and hunt.

It had been a successful night. But transitioning back always left her feeling, well, a bit hungover. She woke up near the tree she had marked and retrieved her clothes from a low-hanging branch. She was just pulling her hoodie over her head when she heard a branch snap behind her.

Shit.

"Who's there?" Deirdre asked, turning on her heel.

"I would never call you stupid, young one. I think you try to have a sense of humour," he joked, showing a smile on his face this time. "Do you think I have?"

"Nah, I just helped our chef make them. And I added some extra sprinkles for good luck", she crossed her arms in front of her chest and gave him a quick look over, "Not that you need it though, but I hear strawberries are herlpful when it comes to love, so maybe take one for your special someone, too?" She was not above enchanting people here, a love spell like a fairy. That sounded like a good idea.

He smiled gently, holding his hand out for the boxes. "If these work... i'll be back. I can promise you that." he moved his hand, the last thing supporting the table from crashing to the floor. For a moment the world seemed to move in slow motion. His eyes widened as the coffee cart went crashing to the floor.

Declan stared guiltily at the woman. "Those ghosts... are real active tonight huh?" He looked around, people now staring. "Let me help you clean up, i'm stronger then i look."

He raised a brow. "Well, if you look at it that way. I'm technically dead. Magic of some form allows me to live by consuming blood. Magic in your blood enables you to become a wolf. So yes, one could assume that magic allows beings to live as spirits or ghosts."

"See, and some people think i'm stupid." he paused. "But seriously. All these years... you've never seen a ghost?"

Dec quips about the full moon and at that moment Doug nearly proves his point because the younger Sharpe was winding him up. Giving a flippant come back or excuse to everything Doug said. It's annoying. Frustrating.

"There doesn't need to be. Does there?"

Full moon was a given, but it's not as though they don't have the capacity to turn on any other day - should the circumstances present themselves.

And when he's invited into the house, Doug just shakes his head, lets out a sigh... Gives Declan a look up and down and there's no way he can hide the -- disappointment -- on his face. Maybe they looked human on a day to day basis... But the fact that they could turn on a fucking whim meant that people could get hurt... Or worse. Or that they could end up on the wrong end of a hunters rifle.

"Take some goddamn responsibility. And stop playing at 'human'. Don't be that guy, Dec... Just... Don't."

"Maybe i already am that man." He replied simply, tossing his hands into his pockets. "But i can't live life afraid of what we are... and i have to live some sort of life. And you can pretend you don't need that too... but you do. One day you'll see that Doug." He nodded, looking towards the house. "I'll check in in the morning. You know where I am if you change your mind."

Aria stood at the nurses station, her hands gently clasping a steaming cup of coffee, its aroma mingling with the sterile scent of antiseptic. Fluorescent lights overhead cast a clinical glow on the bustling ward. It was another busy shift, but Aria had grown accustomed to the rhythm of the clinic, finding solace in the routine chaos.

As she took a sip of her coffee, the intercom crackled to life, announcing a patient in room 214. Aria's eyes flickered wit curiosity, wondering who she would be attending to this time. With a sense of purpose, she set her cup aside and made her way down the corridor, her white uniform swishing softly with each step.

Upon reaching the room, Aria paused for a moment outside of the door, gathering her thoughts and preparing herself to meet the person on the other side. She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves, before gently pushing open the door and stepping inside.

The room was dimly lit, the pale sunlight casting a hazy glow through partially drawn curtains. A figure lay on the hospital bed, their form obscured by the shadows. Aria approached, her footsteps whisper-soft against the tiled floor.

"Good morning," she greeted warmly, her voice a soothing melody. "My name is Aria, and I'll be your nurse today. How're you feeling?"

He coughed, putting on his slightly deeper voice. "Good.... i mean, it's just a bump nurse. Just need the all clear and i'll be out of your uh... hair."

He lowers his voice, keeps it loud enough that only Declan has a chance of hearing him. Sure, the council 'jumped to' as soon as they were aware of something going on. But not fast enough to save everyone...

"You aren't a 'normal man'."

However much Declan might wish for that life. That mundane human existence with friends and girlfriends and... normality. It would never happen. Not for him. And Douglas sometimes wishes it were possible. To just give his brother that peace away from their 'inheritance'...

...And he's sure Declan doesn't need reminding of the fact, but he does it anyway. A heavy heart sinking with the words. Knowing that it was probably an unneeded gut punch to the younger wolf. A bucket of ice cold water on his enthusiasm for the evening.

Shit. Douglas hates being this to Dec. But sometimes he has to be.

"You can't forget that. Not for one minute."

Because one slip. One emotion too strong and strung out in the wrong direction and it was all over (especially with that stupidly eager puppy face of Dec's, chasing girls was bound to be an emotional roller coaster). A shift in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people and he'd be -- h u n t e d. And maybe that's what Doug feared most.

There's a low 'hrrm' sound from the back of Dougs throat. Deep and rumbling. Half growl, half shaking himself out of the deep mire of those thoughts.

Declan was a romantic and continuously seemed to fall in love with someone. Even if it lasted five minutes. But he refused to let the world harden him. He wore his heart on his sleeve; he was who he was and if he ended up in trouble one day because of that. At least he'd lived a life. But he wasn't going to say that to Douglas.

Status: open to all

@hollowstarters

Elyse's stance as she stood off to the side of the parlor of Leland Manor House could only be described as a statue. The perfect spot according to her to view the front door. Her eyes watched every person that entered said door for all suspicious inhabitants that could cause trouble during the night. From the moment Investigation of the Paranormal Society (HIPS) came to the Holloway Home Society with the idea for this event, Elyse has been questioning the advisability of the whole plan. Not that Elyse got much to say when voting with the Holloway Home Society. She was only seen as a junior member at this time. It would not be until she got voted into the next open seat on the board that she could object to crazy ideas such as this one. Since no one was listening to her yet, Elyse saw it as her duty to make sure nothing bad happened or at least try. "Don't touch that," she stated to the young child about to reach for a vase on the bookshelf. She tried her best to smile at the child while keeping a stern look. Within seconds the child took off towards their parent, and Elyse was once more left to focus on those entering the house.

Status: open to all

@hollowstarters

Of course, Lavender Haze had a booth set up in the gardens of Leland Manor. And of course, Maryam was on shift for most of the night. Part of her enjoyed that fact for it could allow her to indulge in the event, be nosy when it came to the fear of these mortals - and yet still uphold her aura of not getting involved in all of this ghost nonsense.

She had brought most of her supplies of magical sprinkles, ready to stir them into any and all drinks should this night become rather boring rather fast. And she was quite happy to know that she had even managed to find a source if Europe for the special stuff, the good stuff. The herbs here were still not close to the potent and powerful magic she found in the fae realm, but having Beifuß collected under a full moon in her bag made her almost feel as if she was at home.

"Looking for something special today?", she smiled at the first person coming closer to the booth, "We have brought our regular coffee for you brave investigators, but this is also the place to come to when you need an extra pick-me-up after tonight." The fae motioned towards the donuts propped up on the booth, but there was a special glint in her eyes, too.

After a few centuries of tolerating mortals and their strange events and celebrations, Fran could almost disassociate himself from it all. If he were not on the Council, he definitely not would be here.

The vampire leaned casually against a wall, distancing himself away from the crowds as his eyes glanced around the people. His nose wrinkled slightly, so many scents.... so many species locked in one space. Now didn't that sound like a recipe for disaster?

He turned to the closest person. “You know there's been so many times in my life when I've been told that a cup of tea can solve most problems. I mean, I have no idea how it can help horrific things but optimism. Oh, there's also the fact that tea does not taste good to me,” he pulled a face as he took another sip. The liquid didn’t taste like much against his tongue, almost like the way he’d imagine soil to taste. Though it helped with his human facade. "Are you a ghost believer?"

He sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. "Well... i'm a werewolf and you're a vampire. So ghosts... why not?"

Status: open to all

@hollowstarters

The fact that Tahlia found herself at such an event like HIPS public investigation of Leland Manor was even a surprise to herself. It all came about due to desperation. Coffee; plain and simple. She needed coffee. While she could have made it at home (Not likely with a broken coffee pot) or stopped at one of the shops in town, this seemed like an easier way to go. Grab it and go. No need to wait around inside a cafe making small talk. She could grab it and go or so she thought. It turns out there was one thing Tahlia did not anticipate the long lines. For a small-town Holloway sure did seem to have a lot of people attending today’s event. "Just my luck!" She blurted out as she found her place at the end of the line.

That doesn't mean Doug wouldn't like to duct tape him to a wall for his own safety.

There's just a slow blink at the younger Sharpe at the notion of 'letting his hair down'. A blink which quite clearly communicated -- --No. No - there was absolutely no chance of that happening. At. All.

"So, you are going in there then?"

Doug can't exactly stop him (though the duct tape was starting to look like a better idea right now)... It doesn't mean he has to be happy about it.

"Look you know what kinda shit has been happening around here. You really think it's a good idea to lock yourself in a house with... Who the hell knows what?"

It's just a good time. Just a town event Just an innocent night of fun... So... Why doesn't he believe that?

There's something of a sigh as he looks at the pretzel in his hand and he passes it to Declan. A peace offering of sorts.

"What friends?"

He's not questioning whether Declan has friends. Rather who his brother's company would be for the evening (and... whether he approved or not).

Dec knew it was his own clumsiness and sometimes sheer stupidity that landed him in trouble. But he knew his brother cared and just wished he wouldn't do that. Truth be told, Dec wished that too. But he was like a moth to a flame. "Sure... why not?" He sighed. "Half the council are in there, I doubt anything will be allowed to happen." He tried to convince his elder brother.

"Or... it is a good idea. You know, show some camaraderie with the rest of town. Maybe it's exactly what we need to do." He patted Doug on the shoulder. He glanced down, accepting the pretzel with ease and leaning down to take a bite.

"I have friends." He answered defensively, his shoulders tensing up. "My throat maybe you just make me way more nervous then the ghosts do." he laughed gently. "Fine, guess i should be used to there being no secrets in this family. I was hoping to run into a girl... you know... like a normal man."

Douglas has no intention of attending the 'lock in'. Because, well ... Bad idea. Too many people. Too enclosed an environment. There's a chance that something - bad - might happen. And he most determinedly doesn't want to be said 'bad' thing. That hasn't stopped him from heading in the general direction of the Leland Manor... Or lingering in the garden and wandering a little distractedly around the different vendors and booths. So far he has a coffee and a salted pretzel - not that he particularly wanted either but it's a good enough guise under which to nose around.

Because there are weird things slipping into the town. Causing harm... causing fear. And Douglas is scared - not for himself but for the people who live here... His friends. His family. And this... this event. He's just not sure. Is it a good thing to raise a little morale? To give people the space to let their hair down and have a little harmless fun? Or is it a damn beacon. Drawing people in... Locking them in. A place where any screams or cries for help may just be assumed to be part of the entertainment. He's trying to shake the words - 'lambs to the slaughter' - out of his head... But without a great deal of success.

So no. He won't be stepping through those doors when the key turns. But maybe he won't head too far out of the neighborhood... Just in case...

He's trying to keep an eye on who is coming and going through the front door, but the place has a buzz of almost nervous excitement - and he's finding it hard to keep track.

"You going in, or just here for the spectacle?"

He asks half distractedly to someone near by.

Declan paused, wondering if he was talking to someone else or perhaps just hadn’t noticed it was his younger brother. He coughed, his voice coming out deep and rougher, clearly put on to fight through his nerves. “Oh! Just… you know.” He shrugged. “Hopefully hanging out with some friends.” He threw his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. “Are you joining us brother? Have some drinks… maybe let your hair down for once.”